Excerpts From a Modern Day Love Affair

This will sound strange. I was browsing the Boston Korean Adoptees group’s Facebook friends the other day and found your page (please excuse my fb stalking). I saw that you went to Brandeis (Have you seen Annie Hall, or was it Manhattan…) and your last name could go either way. Basically I was wondering (dun, dun, dun) have I found another Jew?

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Subject: Food for thought

My friends think you’re taking advantage of me. They say: Why is he “dating” you? He must think you’re vulnerable, or desperate, or crazy. Can’t he get a date? What’s wrong with him?

Has any of this crossed your mind? To be honest, it didn’t cross mine. Are you taking advantage of me? Are you a mutant?

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Subject: Re: What’s it like?

Imagine a cuckoo bird waiting inside a broken clock. I’m the bird quarantined off from the rest of the world, looking around at the walls of her hospital room. But then again, I guess I’m also the wooden house, and the malfunction in the gears, and for that matter the unopened chest in the dusty attic. So maybe that’s not exactly right.

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To: 610-xxx-xxxx

From: 818-xxx-xxxx

14 ambulances tonight. I once heard they only put the sirens on when it’s a case of life or death. I should ask Nurse Beth if that’s true.

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Mike Spector is at Eulogy Belgian Tavern in Philadelphia, PA

B___ C______

Wish I was there 🙁

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To: 610-xxx-xxxx

From: 818-xxx-xxxx

Is it morbid that I find “Roasted Marrow Bones with Texas Toast and Red Onion Marmalade” salivating?

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Subject: Re: Bad Joke

…or, I love the way your texts looks in the morning. I can’t believe it’s been so long. Happy 3 month anniversary!

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Subject: Drugs

I had a dream last night where I couldn’t add 4 + 4. I kept trying but it wouldn’t make sense in my head. 4 + 4 seemed like this impossible concept. The funny thing, even in the dream I knew it added up to 8, but my brain just wouldn’t let me get there. 4 + 4 is 8, right?

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To: 610-xxx-xxxx

From: 818-xxx-xxxx

ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE FUCKER!!!

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Subject: Just when I thought I’d read the whole internet

Today’s Obession: The Akkadians (not to be confused with the Acadians of Louisiana mind you). The wikipedia version…this ancient Mesopotamian civilization thrived during the 3rd millennium BC alongside the Sumerians. Head honcho…Sargon of Akkad. Religion…still dunno. Lesson: I am not comforted by the idea that great empires have disappeared from the earth.

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To: 610-xxx-xxxx

From: 818-xxx-xxxx

Pain, pain, go away, don’t come again any day…

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Mike Spector is at Valley Green Inn

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Subject:

The doctors have cleared me for visitors. All the arrangements have been made. My aunt came earlier. She touched my foot and I nearly lost it. Two more days. I can’t wait to see you. I’ve tried to imagine what it’d be like. I picture you walking through the door. It’s all fantasy really, but I picture you peeking your head in and being surprised at how familiar you look, how your voice sounds. God, baby, I can’t wait to see you. Don’t make me wait any longer.